Chapter 4 Surprise, Surprise?
1364 Words
Martha stared at me in the mirror, her eyes practically glowing with greed—my features were stunning even without makeup, like a delicate, ethereal flower. But after the maids had pampered me within an inch of my life? I transformed into a bewitching siren, impossible to resist. My curvy figure was wrapped in a burgundy velvet gown, the fabric making my skin look as white as snow. A dusting of soft pink blush highlighted my cheekbones, and my lips were painted a luscious, kissable red. Every inch of me was perfect—exactly what humans found irresistible.
She cackled to herself, already counting her gold coins: Jackpot! This girl was a cash cow! With a little training, she’d be the Red Rose Tavern’s top courtesan in no time, making every noble in Willowbrook fall over themselves to pay for her company!
Martha’s face crinkled into a greasy smile as she leaned in, her voice oozing fake sweetness. “By the way, my dear, what’s your name?”
“Leah,” I replied, barely glancing at her. I was too busy admiring my reflection in the ornate European-style mirror—clearer and brighter than the Willowbrook River’s surface, it was a gift for a narcissist like me. Twirling around in the luxurious gown, the fabric swishing around my ankles, I felt like a red rose blooming in the dead of night, breathtakingly beautiful.
“Miss Leah, you’re absolutely exquisite—a born star!” Martha gushed, fawning over me even more. “I’m Martha, the tavern’s mistress. You can call me Madame Martha, just like the other girls. From now on, your stage name will be Bella—it means beauty, and there’s no better fit for you. What do you think?”
Lost in my own radiance, I nodded casually. “Sure.” The name was straightforward, and it matched my stunning looks perfectly!
“Wait, what’s a top courtesan?” I turned to her, confusion written all over my face. I was a firm believer in asking questions when you didn’t know something.
Martha adored my naive, innocent vibe—it made me easier to manipulate. She explained patiently, “A top courtesan is the most beautiful, most popular girl in the tavern. Oh, Bella—can you read? Play the piano? Dance the court dances?”
Bella? It took me two seconds to realize she was talking to me. I shook my head, utterly unapologetic. “Nope, can’t read. All I can do is soak up moonlight in Blackpine Ridge to recharge my power!” I blurted out the truth without a second thought, completely oblivious to how bizarre it sounded.
Martha’s lips twitched, a vein throbbing on her forehead. No skills and she spouted nonsense? Moonlight as a power source? What a weirdo. But she brushed it off—my face was worth the hassle. She frowned, pretending to look concerned. “It’ll be hard to be a top courtesan without any skills, darling. You’ll be entertaining nobles and celebrities—you can’t just stand there looking pretty and say nothing. It would be so embarrassing.”
Panic flared in my chest. I slammed my hand on the table, yelling, “Then what do I do?! I’m the prettiest! I have to be the top courtesan!”
Martha stroked her chin, a devious plan forming in her mind. She smiled sweetly. “For the next few days, you’ll stay in your room and learn to read, practice basic etiquette, and pick up a little piano. Cramming works wonders in a pinch. Tonight’s the busiest night since Christmas—tons of guests will be here. Just walk out with me, stand there, and smile. Don’t say a word.”
She knew exactly what she was doing. Let me talk, and I’d ruin everything. Better to keep me as a silent, beautiful statue. Once she’d hyped up “Bella, Willowbrook’s Most Gorgeous Beauty” over the next few days, every noble in town would be throwing money at her to get a piece of me. She’d be rolling in gold!
Chatty as I was, I hated the idea of staying quiet—but being a top courtesan was worth it. “Fine!” I huffed.
Inside the Red Rose Tavern, the piano played a melodious tune, and the room was packed with guests. Warm, dim lights cast a cozy glow over the laughing men and women, their voices mixing with the clink of wine glasses—it was bustling. When I stepped out of my room behind Martha and stood silently at the top of the stairs, the entire tavern went dead silent for three seconds. Then, chaos erupted. Gasps and exclamations filled the air, and guests jumped to their feet, craning their necks to get a better look, whispering excitedly to each other. Within minutes, the name “Bella, Willowbrook’s Number One Beauty” spread like wildfire through every street and alley in town.
I was thrilled with the title. Every day, I ate delicate pastries, was waited on hand and foot by maids, never had to endure wind or sun, and got to wear the most beautiful dresses imaginable. Being human was amazing!
Meanwhile, Blackpine Ridge had descended into chaos. Kaelen led the royal guards on a ruthless manhunt for werewolves. Ordinary swords were useless against us, so they came armed to the teeth with silver weapons, wolfsbane poison, and sunlight traps. They tore the entire forest apart, even searching the One-Eyed Elder Werewolf’s hidden cabin. The werewolves of Blackpine Ridge were terrified, fleeing their homes in droves to escape capture.
Ten days passed in the blink of an eye. Tonight was the night Martha had planned for my “debut auction.” I was a fast learner with a sharp memory—in just a few days, I’d mastered basic etiquette and learned to read a bunch of common words. Martha was ecstatic with my progress.
That evening, a maid came to fetch me for a bath and to get dressed for the auction. But halfway through the bath, my head started spinning, my limbs went limp, and my consciousness faded away. Martha had laced the bath oils with sleeping pills—she was afraid I’d change my mind and run away, so she’d taken precautions to make sure I stayed put.
When I woke up, night had fallen completely. I found myself lying in a luxurious, unfamiliar bedroom, my hands and feet bound tightly with thick rope. All I wore was a flimsy lace chemise—scandalous and humiliating. Even worse, a burning heat was coursing through my veins, my body feeling wrong, like something was about to break free from its cage. Martha hadn’t just used sleeping pills—she’d slipped me an aphrodisiac too.
Downstairs, the auction was in full swing, reaching its fever pitch. A border duke in an embroidered velvet gown, a family crest glinting on his chest, stood up and declared, “I bid one thousand gold coins. Gold.”
Martha nearly fainted from joy. That single bid was more than the tavern made in a whole year! She was rich! The duke won the auction hands down.
Martha personally led the duke upstairs, bowing deeply and groveling. “Your Grace, rest assured—I’ve given Bella an aphrodisiac. She’ll make sure your night is unforgettable.”
Little did she know, the drug hadn’t worked as intended. Instead of making me docile and eager, it had triggered the werewolf genes lurking deep within me, completely derailing her golden plan.
The second the duke pushed open the bedroom door, both he and Martha froze, their faces turning white with terror. The room wasn’t occupied by a stunning beauty—it held a monster, half-wolf, half-human. Silver-gray fur spread down my neck and across my body, sharp fangs bared in a snarl. My razor-sharp claws sliced through the rope like it was paper, glinting coldly in the candlelight. My eyes blazed with feral crimson, wild with the drug-induced frenzy.
Our eyes locked. I bared my fangs, wiggling my claws playfully, and grinned as terror washed over their faces.
Surprise, motherfuckers! Did you see that coming?
- Writer
